newcomb



2 B M O G W E N J W (No Model.)

FOLDING TABLE.

No. 353,459. Patented Nov. 30, 1886.

i .9 a 2 |rllllll 2 B M 0 U E N J FOLDING TABLE.

Patented Nov. 30, 1886.

n. I). C.

N. PUERs. Phnlu-Lrlhugvapv UNITED STATES PATENT OF ICE.

' WYMAN J. NEWCOMB, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO A 7 CHARLES A. WILCOMB, OF SAME- PLACE FOLDING TABLE.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,459, dated November 30, 1886. Application filed February 20, 1883. Serial No. 192,614. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WYMAN J. NEwcoMB, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in folding tables; and the invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of the devices for adjustably connecting the ends of the legs to the under side of the table, and in an improved inkstand and pen-holderand means for attaching the latter to the table, all as hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the under side of a folding table constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 isalike View of the table folded. Fig. 3 is an end elevation. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the top of thetable, and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the table-legs and a portion of the round connected therewith.

In the drawings, 2 indicates the top of the table, to the under side of which are secured the transverse cleats 3 3, one near each end thereof. Said cleats have each the recess 18 formed in its side, and to the outer side of one is attached the metallic staple 20.

Aleg, 10, is pivoted. by one end at 17 to each of the said cleats 3 on the inner side of and near one end thereof, and said legs 10 are.

united by the cross-braces 16, and have. the bolt-slots 15 therein.- Two other legs, 9 9, are pivotally connected to the inner side of said legs 10 by the screw-bolts 14, which are attached by one end to said legs 9,-and pass through said slots 15in thelegs l0, and a suitable nut on the outer end of said bolts serves to bind the legs 9 and 10 together at their crossing-point; or said bolt may have a suitable head on it and its opposite end be screwed into leg 9. By unscrewing bolt 14: the legs are made free toswing on said bolt, and the latter is thereby permitted to be adjusted to different positions in the slot' 15 in leg 10, whereby the folding of the table is facilitated and the top of the latter is adjusted to a level or to an inclined position, the latter giving it a writing desk form, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper ends of the legs 9 have an adjustable engagement directly with the under side of the table-top 2 by means of a pin, 13, in the upper end of each of said legs, and a series of sockets, 19, in said table-top, in which said pins engage, whereby the ends of said legs are retained in such position as they may be swung to under the top 2, to vary the position of the latter from a level to an incline, and vice versa.

As an automatically-operating means for holding the top of. the table against the pins 13 in the ends of legs 9, and for permitting the ends of the latter td be swung without unfastening any part to provide therefor, and to provide an additional security against the accidental displacement of the upper ends of the legs 9 under the table-top, a cleat, 4, is secured transversely to the under side of the latter, about midway between said cleats 3, and to the under side of cleat 4 is firmly sewood or other suitable material, and through the opposite end of said arm passes the thumbserew 8 into cleat 4, said thumb-screw being capable of being turned in or out in said cleat screw and the end of arm 7, whereby the vibratory movement of the latter is regulated, and if it be desired to lock the table in any position said screw may be turned to bring its head against said nrm.

The side of cleat 4 under arm 7 is cut away 12, which connects the upper ends of legs 9, may move when the table is folded, as in Fig. 2, and at one end of said cut-away spot in cleat at the latter is made thicker, as shown, and across said thicker part are formed the grooves 5, which are spaced to correspond with the said sockets 19 in the table-top, and the said grooves rounded to receive therein the side of the said round 12, and as the latter, by the movement of legs 9, is made to move from one of said grooves to another, arm 7 springs away from cleat 4, to permit the round to come out of the groove and move along, and when the round reaches the next groove it drops into the latter, followed by the spring-arm 7, which forces and holds the round and cleat automatically in engagement with each other, but yet at 6, to leave a free space in which the round cured by one end, at w, the spring-arm 7, of

to vary the distance between the head of the permits the round to be moved between the cleat and arm, for the purposes stated. When the table is folded, as in Fig. 2, the projecting heads of the bolts 14 are brought against the 5 inner sides of the cleats 3, and to permit the legs to fold closely against the under side of the table-top the recesses 18 are formed in said cleats.

To provide a convenient inkstand and penholder for use with the table when the latter is employed for a writing-desk, and set at an incline, as in Fig. 3, the holder 21 is provided. Said holder is provided with a flat metallic spring-hook, 22, adapted to engage with the r 5 rear edge of the tabla-its end entering a socket (shown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2, and 3) in the end of cleat 4, whereby the holder is attached and held to the table. Two support jug-blocks, 23, preferably of rubber or similar resilient material, are secured to the underside of the holder 21, near-one edge, and they hear on the table-top, as in Fig. 3, to support the holder in a level position above the inclined table. The said holder is provided with a re- 25 ceivingsocket for an inkstand, and with grooves for pens and pencils, as shown. The staple 20, (shown under the table in Fig. 1,) serves to temporarily attach the holder 21 thereto when it is not needed for the purpose aforesaid.

What I claim as my invention is- A folding table consisting of the following elements: a top having the cleats 3, secured transversely to its under side near each end, the cross-grooved cleat 4, secured thereon between said cleats 3, the springarm 7, secured on the grooved side of said ole-at 4, the legs 10, pivotally attached by one end to said cleats 3 and having the oblong slots 15 therein, the legs 9, having the round 12 uniting their up- 40 per ends and passing between said grooved oleat and spring-arm 7, and the bolts 14, passing through the slots in the legs 10 and pivotally uniting the latter and the legs 9, all combined substantially as set'forth.

WYMAN J. NEWGOMB.

Witnesses:

H. A. CHAPIN, WM. H. CHAPIN. 

